Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Computers

Drew Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) desktop, (b) laptop and (c) tablet computers his Department has lost in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The number of (a) desktop, (b) laptop and (c) tablet computers that were reported as lost in 2013, 2014 and 2015 to date is set out in the tables. The figures provided are for the entire Department including its executive agencies.   All DfT laptops have full disc encryption to approved Government standards, so it is virtually impossible to recover any data from them without additional hardware and passwords.2015 ItemLostDesktop0Laptops2Tablet02014ItemLostDesktop0Laptops3Tablet02013ItemLostDesktop0Laptops6Tablet0

Glasgow Airport

Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the connectivity of Glasgow Airport compares to that of (a) London City, (b) Heathrow and (c) Gatwick airports.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In 2014, Glasgow airport provided connectivity to 69 destinations with at least a weekly service (i.e. at least 52 direct passenger flight departures, domestic and international). Whilst London City provided connections to 43 destinations, Heathrow 169 and Gatwick 189.

Railways

Nusrat Ghani: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to investigate the management and communications with customers of (a) Southern and (b) Network Rail.

Claire Perry: We have been concerned about the direct and indirect impact of improvement works, poor performance and asset reliability on passengers; at times the delays and disruption for passengers have been inexcusable.   One of the key priorities in this new Parliament is to see train performance in the South-East improve.　Officials and I have been working closely with the Chief Executive of Network Rail, Mark Carne, and the Management team of Southern and GTR to understand the causes of the problems and the plans to solve the issue.   I have also been chairing weekly meetings with senior members of Network Rail, GTR and Southern to ensure progress is being made.　 Passengers are at the heart of these discussions; in particular the need for better communication with passengers. We are committed to see improvements in this area, as well as improvements to performance.

Large Goods Vehicles: EU Law

Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the application of Regulation EC 1071/2009 concerning occupation of transport operators.

Andrew Jones: As an EU Regulation the United Kingdom is obliged to implement such measures as specified. The requirements under Regulation 1071/2009 were met by amending domestic legislation which was implemented on 4 December 2011. These legislative changes will be the subject of a Post Implementation Review in 2016.

Large Goods Vehicles: EU Law

Sir Alan Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish his Department's response to the formal notification of infraction from the European Commission concerning the Government's application of Regulation EC 1071/2009 on access to the occupation of a road transport operator; and what steps he plans to take in response to that notification.

Andrew Jones: On 30th April 2015, the Department for Transport received a formal notice of infraction from the European Commission concerning the UK’s application of Regulation (EC) no 1071/2009 (on access to the occupation of road transport operator). We will consider the content of this letter and respond within two months, in line with Article 258 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).   As this is a live case, and communications with the European Commission concerning infractions are in most cases confidential, it would not be appropriate to publish our response.   At this stage, no decisions have been made about any actions the UK may take in the light of the issues raised by the Commission.

Department for Transport: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which buildings occupied by his Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As part of the Government’s Transparency Agenda information about Department for Transport properties is published on the data.gov.uk website. Information on the properties owned and leased by the Department is available via the following web link:http://data.gov.uk/dataset/epimsThe specific information requested on rental payments is not centrally recorded and could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Airports: South East

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of each of the shortlisted options for a new runway in South East England on connectivity to Northern Ireland.

Mr Robert Goodwill: In setting the Airports Commission’s terms of reference, the Government asked it to consider the UK’s future requirements for international and domestic connectivity. We will carefully consider the Airports Commissions final report and its recommendations when the final report is published.

Railways: East of England

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that bidders for the next contract for the Greater Anglia rail passenger service take steps so that the living wage is paid through the contract chain.

Claire Perry: The Department is open to receiving bids for the East Anglia franchise containing commitments to pay the living wage but salary and benefit arrangements are a matter for employers to determine.

Railways: East of England

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many stations there are on the Greater Anglia rail franchise; and how many of those stations are unstaffed.

Claire Perry: There are 131 stations managed by Abellio Greater Anglia, whilst their services call at 147 stations. Of those 131 stations, under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, 67 have staffed ticket offices. All other staffing decisions are a matter for the operator and they have no need to inform us of their decisions.

Abellio Greater Anglia

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff are employed by Greater Anglia rail passenger services as (a) station staff, (b) ticket office staff, (c) guards or train crew, (d) cleaning staff, (e) catering staff, (f) security staff, (g) administrative staff and (h) managerial staff.

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff are employed by Greater Anglia rail passenger services.

Claire Perry: As of 12 June 2015, there are 3,133 staff employed by Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA). On the AGA Franchise, the Department monitors the staffing levels of guards and train crew (1090 on 12 June), cleaning staff (220 on 12 June) and catering staff (57 on 12 June). The Department does not monitor the other categories to this level of granularity.

Midland Main Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what works have been undertaken to enable the electrification of the Midland Main Line to date; and what the value is of (a) contracts entered into by Network Rail in connection with the project and (b) the work undertaken by his Department before that project was included in the 2012 High Level Output Specification.

Claire Perry: Work undertaken to enable the electrification of the Midland Main line includes detailed design, bridge construction and some of the piling for overhead masts.　 The financial value of work undertaken by the Department before the project was included in the 2012 High Level Output Specification cannot be differentiated from other development work undertaken in preparation for the Specification.

Network Rail

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2015 to Question 1550, on what date he received the Stakeholder Executive's review of Network Rail's governance.

Mr Patrick McLoughlin: The Shareholder Executive submitted its review to me in early March, in the last months of the previous Parliament.

Railways: Tickets

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2015 to Question 2610, what his Department's annual expenditure on the South East Flexible Ticketing programme (SEFT) has been; and what the value was of the funding that was transferred from the ITSO on Prestige programme to SEFT.

Andrew Jones: The spend on the SEFT programme each year has been:   2015/2016 (as of 1 June 2015): £1.6m 2014/2015: £16.5m 2013/2014: £8.2m 2012/2013: £1.5m   No funding has been transferred from the ITSO on Prestige programme to SEFT.

Rolling Stock

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2015 to Question 3009, whether all Pacer trains will be withdrawn from service once they are displaced from the Northern and Great Western franchises.

Claire Perry: The rolling stock sector is a private market but the Government has already made its position clear on Pacer trains. It would be for the Scottish Government, and from 2018, the Welsh Assembly to make such a decision with regard to their transport needs.

Traffic Officers

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people were employed in the Highways Agency Traffic Officer Service in each year since 2010; and how many people are employed in the comparable section of Highways England.

Andrew Jones: The information is as follows:- YearStaff in Traffic Officer Service20101727201116762012160820131516201414392015 (Highways England)1454   Please note we have interpreted Traffic Officer Service as Traffic Officers and support staff such as control room staff.  Note that the decrease in the number of staff in the Traffic Officer Service reflects various organisational changes which have not impacted on the operational capability of the service: such as the introduction of Flexible Rostering into the Traffic Officer Service which has meant less staff are required to operate; and a review of the Team Manager role has lead to non-operational tasks removed from the role and posts converted into non-operational roles in Service Delivery, a department not in the Traffic Officer Service.

Manchester Airport

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Manchester Airport of a new runway at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick Airport.

Mr Robert Goodwill: To ensure our long term connectivity needs can be met, the previous Government established the independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation. Three options for expansion have been shortlisted by the Commission for further examination.The Airports Commission has discussed and consulted on how airports outside the South East might be affected by expansion at the shortlisted expansion options. The relevant documents can be found on the Airports Commission website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/airports-commissionThe Commission’s final report will be published shortly and the Government will carefully consider all the evidence before making a decision on the way forward.

Rail Infrastructure Futures Unit

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the purpose is of his Department's Rail Infrastructure Futures unit; on what date that unit was created; how many officials work in the Rail Infrastructure Futures team; and whether any external bodies have seconded staff to that unit or undertaken work at Rail Infrastructure Futures' request.

Mr Patrick McLoughlin: Officials in the Department for Transport’s Rail Executive continually consider a range of medium- to long-term policy issues relating to rail infrastructure management and connected issues covering the wider rail industry. 　In so doing, and to ensure the robustness of their work, they engage with internal and external stakeholders on a regular basis.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of automotive emissions on climate change in the next five years.

Andrew Jones: Cars, vans and heavy good vehicles emit greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, which contribute to climate change. Each year the Government publishes updated energy projections analysing and projecting future greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.   The last set of data was published in September 2014 and projects a reduction in road transport emissions over the period 2015 to 2020 from 108 Mt CO2 to 99 Mt CO2, based on current committed policy.   The UK has some of the most stretching carbon targets in the world which will see a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 compared to 1990 levels, on a path towards an 80% reduction by 2050.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Right to Buy Scheme

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the replacement rate of council homes sold through the right to buy scheme has been in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) nationally for each year since 2012.

Brandon Lewis: Statistics on quarterly Right to Buy replacement starts of dwellings for each local authority district in England are published in the Department’s live table 693 here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-social-housing-salesThe estimates of ‘replacement’ starts on site and acquisitions are a proxy for the number of replacement homes delivered using Right to Buy receipts.

Communities and Local Government: Research

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what research reports his Department commissioned from external bodies between September 2010 and December 2014 have not been published; when each such report was commissioned; what the nature of the research commissioned for each such report was; from whom each such research report was commissioned; what the value of each such commission was; on what date each such report was received by his Department; for what reason each such report has not yet been published; and when he plans to publish each such report.

Mr Mark Francois: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority

Margaret Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will review the Government's allocation of funding to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority and closure of the two fire stations in Wirral West constituency.

Mr Mark Francois: The 2015-16 Local Government Finance Settlement was approved by Parliament on 10 February 2015, and we have no plans to change this. The closure of fire stations is a matter for Merseyside Fire Services to determine its own operational activities through its integrated risk management plan, in consultation with the local community.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting local communities the right to veto wind farm applications.

James Wharton: The Conservative election manifesto committed to give local people the final say on onshore wind farm applications. The new considerations to be applied to proposed wind energy development were set out in the Written Statement of 18 June, HCWS 42. Onshore wind turbines should only get the go-ahead when and where local people have said they want them.

Energy: Planning Permission

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ask or require local planning authorities to publish the planning routes for any application of (a) fracking and (b) any other energy facilities.

James Wharton: The Government’s online planning practice guidance (http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/ ) includes information on the process for applications made for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.  Guidance on the process for projects that are nationally significant infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008 is also available online http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/application-process/ .  Local authorities are free to make links to this guidance on their own websites if they wish.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with EU partners on the potential for taking military action against people traffickers in the Mediterranean in international waters.

Mr David Lidington: Both the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), and I have kept in close contact with EU partners as we developed a comprehensive response to people smuggling across the Mediterranean. On 22 June the Foreign Secretary attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, where EU members agreed to launch a military operation to disrupt the business model of the smugglers. This will be conducted in a phased approach starting with surveillance and intelligence work. We will continue to work closely with EU and other partners, including the Libyan authorities, to stop people trafficking, develop a comprehensive solution to this crisis and to support a political process in Libya.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the franchise for the proposed referendum on the UK's membership of the EU.

Mr David Lidington: The franchise for the proposed referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union is a matter for the United Kingdom Parliament. I gave an update on the EU Referendum Bill to the Scottish Government and other Devolved Administrations at the Joint Ministerial Committee (Europe) on 15 June 2015. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), provided a similar update at the British-Irish Council on 18 and 19 June 2015.

Iran: Hezbollah

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of Iran's financial and material support for Hezbollah.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We continue to have serious concerns about Iran's support for the military wing of Hizballah, which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK and in the EU. This support includes the provision of significant financial resources, military equipment and training, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747, which prohibits the export of weapons by Iran. We call on Iran to implement its obligations under this Resolution and to end its military support to Hizballah, which undermines regional security.

Iran: Hamas

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of Iran's financial and material support for Hamas.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Iranian support for Hamas reportedly continues, although at a lower level since Hamas decided not to support the Syrian regime. This support includes the provision of financial resources and training as well as the supply of military equipment, in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1747, which prohibits the export of weapons by Iran. This military support for Hamas directly undermines prospects for lasting peace in the region.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for her Department are paid less than the living wage.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department does not directly employ any members of staff on an hourly rate below that set by the Living Wage Foundation.In my Department’s Belfast office, there are 12 staff working for companies contracted by the Department. Of these staff, 11 are paid less than the hourly Living Wage set by the Living Wage Foundation for employees outside London, but are paid above the minimum wage.My Department’s London office does not have any direct contracts with companies. All staff such as cleaners are provided by the building management company with whom we have a lease and arrangement to provide such services.

Northern Ireland Government

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the historical files on the conflict in Northern Ireland will be handed over to the Historical Inquiries Unit; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Northern Ireland Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she last met the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; and what subjects were discussed at that meeting.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I last met the Police Ombudsman in September 2014. Over the course of the meeting we discussed a range of issues of mutual interest including the importance of maintaining dialogue between the Department and the Ombudsman Office on national security matters.

Homicide: Loughinisland

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she last met the Minister for Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to discuss the police investigation into the Loughinisland massacre on 18 June 1994; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Northern Ireland Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Northern Ireland Office: Directors

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many non-executive directors of her Department who were in post before May 2015 have since left the Department's board; what the names and length of tenure of such directors were; and how many and what non-executive director appointments she has made since May 2010.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: My Department has one non-executive director, Dawn Johnson, who was appointed on 1 June 2013 for a period of three years by the Northern Ireland Office’s Principal Accounting Officer.

Bill of Rights: Northern Ireland

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will take steps to introduce a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: The Government would like to see the issue of a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights resolved on the basis of agreement between the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive. As the Stormont House Agreement notes, there is currently no consensus on this issue.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Attorney General, which buildings occupied by the Law Officers' Departments are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.

Robert Buckland: The information requested in respect of the Attorney General’s Office, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate and the Government Legal Department (formally TSol) remains unchanged from that given in the former Solicitor General’s answer to question 183631 on 22 January 2014 (Official Report, Col 192W). Information relating to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is detailed below.The SFO is a tenant in 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5BS which is owned by the Crown Estate. The Canadian High Commission (CHC) has taken out a 101 year lease from the Crown Estate for the building and the SFO makes rental payments to the CHC for the space it occupies. The rent paid by the SFO for 2014-15 financial year amounted to £1,733,619 (including non-recoverable VAT).In March 2015 the SFO rented additional temporary office space as part of one of its blockbuster investigations. Following discussions with the Government Property Unit (GPU) a short term lease for temporary accommodation was agreed with Regus Management. This lease is due to run from 16 March to 30 June 2015 and rental payments for the 2014-15 financial year amounted to £15,690 (including non-recoverable VAT).According to records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) property managing agent (DTZ), the CPS leases the following buildings that are owned or part-owned privately. The rent figures exclude VAT.   PropertyTownLandlordRent £p/aEmlyn Hughes HouseBarrow-in-FurnessBarrow-in-furness BoroughCouncil33,000Colmore GateBirminghamCIP Property (AIPT) Ltd1,167,925Riding Gate HouseCanterburyJames Hay PensionTrustees Ltd143,000Capital TowerCardiffTopland Mercury Ltd229,716Stocklund HouseCarlisleChartsand­­­ Ltd28,880County HouseChelmsfordIPT Property Holdings ltd688,000Fox Talbot HouseChippenhamPFC Asset Management Ltd185,000Southern HouseCroydonLondon & ContinentalRailways Ltd205,239Black Horse HouseEastleighEastleigh Borough Council96,777GatewayGuildfordNapier Capital No 1 Ltd356,850City GateHoveAltyre Properties150,750St Vincent HouseIpswichSeacourt Properties Ltd72,500Jefferson HouseLeedsBunbury Holdings Ltd234,000Princes CourtLeicesterDaffodil General Partner Ltd290,000The Regatta (Suites 1-3)LincolnMelbourne Holdings Ltd61,275Rose CourtLondonGrandiose Investments Pte Ltd4,345,800Sunlight HouseManchesterScottish Widows InvestmentPartnership PT615,377Hudson QuayMiddlesbroughMiddlehaven Properties Ltd160,410Mold Business ParkMoldWEPRE INNS Limited40,000St Anne's QuayNewcastleM & F Finance (Ireland) Ltd530,000Carmelite HouseNorwichJarrold Properties246,000King Edward CourtNottinghamNottingham & CountyConstitutional Club Ltd10,500King Edward CourtNottinghamThe Saxon Graphics PensionScheme (SAPS)15,400King Edward CourtNottinghamHighclare Properties Ltd120,000Gemini OneOxfordArlington Business ParksPartnerships263,880PrestonPrestonLandmarq LLP203,600Queens HouseSt AlbansQueens House Ltd232,500Etruria Office VillageStokeBunbury Holdings189,300Central Police StationSwanseaPolice & Crime Commissionerfor South Wales103,000Penhaligon HouseTruroDaejan Commercial Props Ltd53,300South ParadeWakefieldYorkway Construction &Trewint Construction96,000Burnley WharfBurnleyJudith McFarlane-Davidson105,600Vantage Point HouseCwmbranVantage Point Business Park120,863Priory GateMaidstoneEaton Assets UK Ltd366,300Afon House,Newtown, PowysTrillium (Prime) PropertyGP Ltd27,200Parker CourtStaffordEdward Barry Davey &Maria Davey130,910Bankside ChambersWarringtonDukeminster 80 Ltd87,685Bromfield HouseWrexhamG Walker Properties Ltd79,000The Regatta Suites 4 - 5LincolnMelbourne Holdings Ltd43,677

Attorney General: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Attorney General, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for the Law Officers' Departments and their subsidiary agencies are paid less than the living wage.

Robert Buckland: No direct employees of the Government Legal Department (GLD) are paid less than the living wage. However, at 22 June 2015 GLD had four temporary workers in London receiving less than the living wage although this position will change after 12 weeks of engagement in line with the Agency Workers legislation. At that point, their salary will increase to a higher rate of pay comparable to the rate of a direct employee. All other temporary workers are paid more than the living wage.   No direct employees or temporary workers employed by the remaining Law Officers' Departments are paid less than the living wage. A complete record on the pay arrangements for staff employed by companies contracted to provide services to the Law Officers' Departments is not held and could not be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Basic Skills: Further Education

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what financial resources the Government plans to allocate for the provision of basic English and mathematics in further education.

Nick Boles: Improving English and maths is a top priority for Government.40% of pupils do not get GCSE grades A* to C in English and maths by age 16. Worse still, 90% of those who don’t reach this basic standard by 16, don’t achieve it by age 19.The Government is determined to ensure that all students who do not attain A*-C in English and maths GCSEs in KS4 are supported to continue to work towards these vital qualifications.From August 2014 students who did not achieve A*-C in English and/or maths GCSE by age 16 must continue to work towards achieving these qualifications or an approved interim qualification as a ‘stepping stone’ towards GCSE as a condition of student places being funded.With effect from August 2015, we will amend the funding condition, so full-time 16 to 19 students with prior attainment of grade D in English and/or maths will take GCSE, rather than any other qualification in these subjects.For adults without a A*-C GCSE or a level 2 qualification in English and/or maths, the Government will fully fund English and maths provision up to and including level 2. English and maths are also embedded in our training programmes, such as apprenticeships and traineeships, for those who do not have a GCSE A*-C (Level 2 qualification). The skills funding letter for 2015-2016 emphasised the priority we attach to English and maths and spend has been protected through our allocations methodology.To address the increase in post-16 students continuing their English and maths study, the Government is investing over £30m over two years (financial years 13/14 and 14/15) in a range of measures to improve the quantity of teachers and quality of teaching and learning practice. To date this investment has supported the recruitment of 680 new graduate teachers and the training of 3,250 existing maths and English teachers.

Bradwell Power Station

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what meetings (a) he, (b) his predecessor, (c) Ministers in his Department and (d) officials in his Department have had on the future of the Magnox site at Bradwell in the last three years.

Anna Soubry: I am unable to comment on meetings held with Ministers under the previous Administration. It is an established convention that Minsters of one Administration cannot see the documents of a previous Administration.   Brief details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are all publically available on the Gov.UK website.

Students: Loans

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the estimated RAB charge is for full-time undergraduate students in England; and what data this calculation is based on.

Joseph Johnson: The latest RAB charge was published in response to a Parliamentary Question from the Rt hon Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Liam Byrne) on 20 March 2014, Official Report, Col 706W.   We shall be publishing in July an updated estimate of the RAB charge on my Department’s website, alongside the publication of an updated version of the simplified model and BIS accounts. The data used in the calculation come from the Student Loans Company, which supplies repayment data. Publicly available survey data sources, such as the Labour Force Survey and the British Household Panel Survey, are also used in calculating the estimate.

Students: Loans

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the estimated RAB charge is for part-time undergraduate students in England; and what data this calculation is based on.

Joseph Johnson: The latest RAB charge assumption was published in response to a Parliamentary from the Rt hon Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Liam Byrne) on 26 June 2014, Official Report, Col 291-2W. This is a cautious assumption as those who have received part time loans are not yet in repayment, and we therefore have no data on the actual pattern of repayments. The actual RAB charge will depend on many factors such as the age profile of borrowers, their future earnings and levels of non-completion of studies. My Department will revise this assumption as repayment data becomes available.

Students: Fees and Charges

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of undergraduate students with equivalent or lower qualifications received support for their tuition fees in the academic year 2012-13.

Joseph Johnson: The information requested is currently being researched. I will write to my hon Friend as soon as the information is available and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Hazardous Substances: EU Law

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assistance and advice his Department plans to make available to small businesses seeking to comply with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

Anna Soubry: Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (the CLP Regulation) is a single market measure that acts directly in all European Union (EU) Member States. Supporting guidance is provided at EU level by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), in partnership with Member States. The guidance is routinely reviewed to ensure it reflects practical compliance experience and continues to support chemical suppliers both small and large.   The CLP regulation requires every Member State to establish a national CLP Helpdesk to provide compliance advice. The HSE acts as the UK CLP competent authority and, as part of this function, has provided the Helpdesk since 2009. It provides a suite of webpages that introduce the key duties in CLP, and steer visitors to the ECHA guidance. Additionally, the HSE will consider the feasibility of developing an on-line tool to help small businesses comply with the regulation.

Foreign Workers: ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the role of Tier 2 Inter Company Transfer Visas in promoting skills in the ICT industries.

Nick Boles: The Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer route is designed to allow multinational companies to transfer existing employees to temporary posts in their UK branch. Allowing such businesses to transfer staff in this way can encourage international trade and investment and can create UK jobs for resident workers, not just migrant workers.   Intra Company Transfers play an import role in bringing overseas IT professionals to the UK. The majority of applications under this route are for IT occupations. For the year ending September 2014, 76% (16,484) of short-term ICT visas and 47% (7,996) of long-term ICT visas issued were for IT jobs.

Skills Funding Agency

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the budget is for the Skills Funding Agency for the next five years; if he will conduct a review into the level of funding of the Skills Funding Agency for each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles: A budget of £3.91 billion was set for the 2015-16 financial year to fund adult Further Education and Skills. This was published in the Skills Funding Letter in February 2015 although the figure will be subject to revision in the budget.   All spending decisions for 2016-17 and beyond will be taken as part of the Spending Review, the timetable for which is yet to be finalised.

Skills Funding Agency: West Midlands

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of the Skills Funding Agency budget has been spent in the West Midlands in each of the last five years.

Nick Boles: Adult skills funding is made available to further education providers, not local areas or regions. The funding system is demand led and money follows the learners.  Allocations for 2015-16 will be published for all colleges as a matter of course. These will be made available on the Skills Funding Agency website. Historic allocations are also available on the Skills Funding Agency website.  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-funding-allocations-to-training-providers-2005-to-2013 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-funding-allocations-to-training-providers-2014-to-2015

Unemployment: Young People

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of 18 to 24 year old (a) women and (b) men were not in education, employment or training in each (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) region in England in each of the last four quarters for which data is available; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles: Table 1 below shows estimates of the proportion of people aged 18 to 24 not in education, employment or training in regions for quarter 1, 2012 to 2015. This is based on the ONS Labour Force Survey.   Trends should be assessed by comparing the current time period with the same time period in the previous year(s), to account for seasonal effects. Therefore in Table 1, we have shown the latest quarter (January-March 2015) with January-March figures for 2012, 2013 and 2014. Estimates are not available at parliamentary constituency level.   Please note that these estimates are subject to large sampling variability and should therefore be treated with caution and viewed in conjunction with their Confidence Intervals (CIs), which indicate how accurate an estimate is. For example, a CI of +/-5.5 percentage points means that the sampling variability ranges from 5.5 percentage points above the estimate and 5.5 percentage points below the estimate. Confidence Intervals have also been provided in Table 1.   Table 1: Proportion of 18 to 24 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEET) by region   2012 quarter 12013 quarter 12014 quarter 12015 quarter 1  ProportionCI (+/-)ProportionCI (+/-)ProportionCI (+/-)ProportionCI (+/-)North EastMale19.9%5.520.1%6.515.4%5.117.0%5.7 Female23.5%6.025.2%6.422.7%6.226.1%6.5 Total21.6%4.122.6%4.519.0%4.021.4%4.3North WestMale20.3%3.715.7%3.616.2%3.511.3%3.1 Female22.8%3.818.9%3.719.0%3.519.1%3.8 Total21.6%2.617.2%2.617.6%2.515.1%2.5Yorkshire & HumberMale22.7%4.215.3%3.715.0%3.817.1%4.3Female21.7%3.822.4%4.116.8%3.819.6%4.0Total22.2%2.818.9%2.815.9%2.718.3%2.9East Midlands Male17.2%4.611.3%3.716.3%4.510.1%3.6Female16.9%4.422.4%4.715.1%4.216.4%4.4Total17.1%3.216.6%3.015.7%3.113.2%2.8West MidlandsMale18.6%4.116.9%4.516.9%4.214.3%4.1Female21.7%4.126.7%5.023.6%4.517.6%4.6Total20.1%2.921.8%3.420.3%3.115.9%3.1East of EnglandMale15.8%4.114.4%3.814.5%3.911.4%3.6Female17.1%4.217.7%4.216.3%3.919.4%4.5Total16.4%2.916.0%2.815.4%2.715.4%2.9LondonMale14.0%3.615.5%4.010.7%3.17.9%2.7 Female18.4%3.817.2%3.816.1%3.515.6%3.4 Total16.1%2.616.4%2.713.5%2.411.9%2.2South EastMale10.6%2.814.5%3.310.3%2.89.4%2.7 Female17.2%3.416.8%3.413.6%3.216.2%3.5 Total13.9%2.215.6%2.411.9%2.112.7%2.2South WestMale15.1%4.215.2%4.39.5%3.512.8%3.9 Female16.4%4.218.1%4.516.1%4.212.2%3.9 Total15.7%2.916.6%3.112.8%2.712.5%2.8EnglandMale16.6%1.315.2%1.313.6%1.211.8%1.2 Female19.4%1.320.0%1.417.3%1.317.5%1.4 Total18.0%0.917.6%1.015.4%0.914.6%0.9Notes: 1) The data source is the Labour Force Survey.  2) Confidence intervals are measured in percentage points.

Department for International Development

Malaria

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department plans to provide for (a) research on and (b) treatment of malaria until 2020.

Grant Shapps: The UK Government’s expenditure on malaria is provided through: malaria-specific bilateral projects and programmes; bilateral support to health systems and service delivery; UK Government contributions to multilateral and global initiatives that work on malaria prevention and treatment; and by supporting malaria related research. The UK’s Framework for Results for malaria in the developing world set out a methodology for monitoring the Government's spending on malaria. The estimated UK spend on malaria prevention, control and treatment between 2008/09 and 2013/14 was:£ millionTotal malaria spend2008/091382009/101942010/113062011/122532012/133132013/14536  We are unable to specify future spending on research or treatment of malaria, as a spending review will take place later this year that will determine the future expenditure allocations across the Department.

Department for International Development: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which buildings occupied by her Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID occupies two buildings in the UK, one in Whitehall, London and the other in East Kilbride. We hold the leasehold on both properties and no rent is paid.

Yemen

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much aid her Department has provided to people affected by the crisis in Yemen in each of the last three years.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID provided to Yemen £59.1 million of bilateral aid in 2012-13, £81.4 million in 2013-14 and £67.0 million in 2014-15. Our assistance helped meet urgent humanitarian needs, deliver basic services, and support political and economic reform.  On Friday 19 June the Secretary of State announced a further £40 million of humanitarian assistance for Yemen for 2015, which will provide Yemenis affected by the crisis with emergency shelter, healthcare, water and food assistance, as well as supporting UN work to co-ordinate the humanitarian response.

Malaria

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what consultancy firms her Department works with in the delivery of projects for (a) treatment of and (b) research on malaria.

Grant Shapps: The Department for International Development works with a range of suppliers to deliver malaria prevention, treatment and research projects. Detailed information on international development projects funded by the UK Government is available on the Development Tracker website.

Department for International Development: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for her Department are paid less than the living wage.

Mr Desmond Swayne: Direct employeesThere are no staff directly employed by DFID who are paid less than the National or London Living Wage. Agency staffNone of the agencies which DFID uses to engage temporary staff pay less than the National or London Living wage. Outsourced workersDFID considers the rate of pay for outsourced workers to be an issue for contractors. We encourage outsource partners to pay the National or London Living Wage.

Hamas: Humanitarian Aid

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the use by Hamas of (a) UK and (b) UN humanitarian aid.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK Government takes comprehensive measures to ensure that the projects it funds in Gaza do not breach European Union or UK counter terror legislation. We continue to take extensive precautions to ensure that Hamas does not derive any financial benefit from our projects, including by providing £0.5m to support the Materials Monitoring Unit (MMU) which oversees and monitors the import, storage, supply and use of construction materials into Gaza through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.

Department for Education

Further Education: Finance

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her Answer of 15 June to Question 1850, what the budgetary reductions are; and how they were decided.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We expect the majority of the savings to come from departmental underspends in demand-led budgets.   No savings will be made from protected schools funding, and we have no plans to change the allocations for the education of 16 to 19-year-olds in the 2015/16 academic year that were announced in March 2015.

Foster Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 26 March 2015 to Question 228386, what steps her Department plans to take in relation to the four authorities found to be in breach of visiting timescales for children in private fostering arrangements.

Edward Timpson: I have issued statutory directions or improvement notices in the case of all four authorities found to be in breach of visiting timescales for children privately fostered, requiring improvements to be made. Each has a tailored intervention programme designed to address the weaknesses in children’s services highlighted by Ofsted.

Children in Care

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to publish rates of re-entry to care rates in each local authority area.

Edward Timpson: In 2013, the Government published the ‘Looked-after children: improving permanence - data pack’. The pack can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-permanence-for-looked-after-children-data-pack   This provides information on children who returned home in 2006 – 2007 and had re-entered care by 2012. The pack illustrates why publishing the rate of re-entry to care for each local authority alone could be misleading. We do not, therefore, have current plans to publish this data. We expect local authorities to be examining their own performance using their data alongside individual children’s case histories.

ICT: Qualifications

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what opportunities there are to have non-recognised ICT qualifications validated when there is evidence that these qualifications have been demonstrated in the workplace; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Boles: The previous government introduced measures to raise the quality and rigour of technical and vocational qualifications. Only those qualifications that meet the required quality standards are recognised in the school and college performance tables. The Department for Education runs an annual process to identify qualifications that meet the required standards and can count in performance tables. This includes a requirement for evidence that a qualification supports progression to the next stage of education, training or employment. If an awarding organisation can demonstrate that a qualification meets the criteria, it can be included in performance tables. As a result of our reforms, students can now choose from consistently high quality and appropriate qualifications across all sectors that have genuine currency for the purposes of progression. The criteria for qualifications for 14-16 year olds are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/412515/14-16_qualifications_technical_guide_2017_and_2018_performance_tables.pdf The criteria for qualifications for 16-18 year olds are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/412526/16-19_qualifications_technical_guide_2017_and_2018_performance_tables.pdf

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will set out the advice she plans to provide to schools on how to talk about sexual consent in an age-appropriate way.

Edward Timpson: The PSHE Association has developed non-statutory guidance for schools when teaching about the topic of consent. This was published in March 2015 and can be found at www.pshe-association.org.uk. The department strongly welcomes this guidance. The PSHE Association’s guidance will help teachers clearly establish the legal framework around consent and supports the government’s ‘This is Abuse’ campaign, which helps educate young people about damaging behaviours within relationships.   When teaching sex education, it is a statutory requirement for schools (including academies through their funding agreements) to have regard to the Secretary of State’s Sex and Relationship Education Guidance (2000), which can be found online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sex-and-relationship-education  The statutory guidance makes clear that all sex and relationship education should be age-appropriate and that schools should ensure young people develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgments and behaviour.

Academies

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what evidence her Department holds to support the proposition that academies are better performers than local authority schools; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Sponsored academies have played a significant role over several years in bringing about the improvement of many failing and struggling schools in some of our most disadvantaged areas.   By 2014, the proportion of pupils that achieved five good GCSEs, including English and Mathematics, in sponsored secondary academies open for four years had risen by an average of 6.4 percentage points compared to the schools that they replaced (a rise from 36.8 per cent in 2010 to 43.2 per cent in 2014). Over the same period, results in local authority schools rose by an average of 1.3 percentage points (a rise from 54.4 per cent to 55.7 per cent).   The first sponsored primary academies had been open for two years by the time of the 2014 results. The proportion of pupils that achieved the expected level in reading, writing and mathematics increased by an average of 9 percentage points (from 58 per cent to 67 per cent) in that time, compared to an average 4 percentage point rise (from 75 per cent to 79 per cent) in local authority schools.   We want more schools to achieve these rates of improvement.   Statistics for the attainment of local authority schools and academies can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education/about/statistics   Since 2010, many successful schools have become converter academies and are sharing their educational expertise with other schools. Over half of approved sponsors are converter academies. In 2014, attainment in converter academies continued to remain above that in local authority schools.

Education: Finance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet the Skills Funding Agency to discuss the number of places her Department will fund in the coming year.

Nick Boles: The Secretary of State unfortunately is unable to meet with the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) at this time. Other Ministers and officials frequently meet with the SFA to discuss matters as they arise.

Education: Finance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet the Education Funding Agency to discuss the number of course places her Department will fund in the coming year.

Edward Timpson: The allocations for the education of 16 to 19-year-olds in 2015/16 were announced by the end of March. The allocations remain in place and we are not planning to change them.   The Secretary of State’s policy officials frequently meet with the Education Funding Agency to discuss matters as they arise.

Education: Finance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet representatives of Dudley College to discuss upcoming funding allocations for (a) adult skills, (b) the Skills Funding Agency and (c) the Education Funding Agency.

Nick Boles: I would be happy to meet the Honorable Member for Dudley North and representatives of Dudley College to discuss funding allocations following the Spending Review. The EFA have confirmed that allocations for 16 to19-year-olds made in March 2015 for the 2015 to 2016 academic year are secure.

Free Schools: Religion

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools of a religious character have (a) 50 to 100 per cent (b) 40 to 49 per cent, (c) 30 to 39 per cent, (d) 20 to 29 per cent, (e) 10 to 19, (f) less than 10 per cent, (g) less than five per cent and (h) less than one per cent of children from other faiths or no faith.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of free schools is single-sex.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of single-sex free schools is of a religious character.

Edward Timpson: The department does not collect information on the percentage of children of any faith or of no faith in free schools. Of the 212 open mainstream free schools there are 8 single-sex schools (3.8%), of which 6 (75%) have a religious character.

Department for Education: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which buildings occupied by her Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.

Nick Gibb: Since May 2010 the department has reduced the size of its estate from 30 properties, at a cost of circa £51m per annum, to six properties costing circa £31m per annum. As part of its estates strategy in 2012 the department announced an ambitious programme to reduce its estate from twelve sites to six, while maximising the efficiency of the buildings retained. This has now been achieved by reducing the amount of space we use, by surrendering unwanted facilities to landlords and through sub-letting vacant space to other organisations. The Department also plans to vacate Sanctuary Buildings at lease expiry in 2017 and relocate to a Government owned freehold building, which will generate a further saving of c£8.5m per year. The department currently occupies ten properties which are owned or part-owned privately. These are listed in the following table:PropertyLandlordGross Rent (£) Per Annum (exc VAT)Net Rent (£) Per Annum (exc VAT)(3)Bishopsgate House, DarlingtonDarlington Borough Council432,420.00419,447.40Earlsdon Park, CoventryMCD (Coventry) Ltd (acting by J Pitt & B Moon)1,211,301.001,211,301.00National College, NottinghamUniversity of NottinghamPeppercorn(1)Peppercorn(1)Piccadilly Gate, ManchesterLondon and Continental Railways Limited1,009,255.45736,261.02Sanctuary Buildings, LondonBlackstone Property Management Ltd10,300,000.007,854,780.00St Pauls, SheffieldSt Pauls Place Management LtdPeppercorn(1)Peppercorn(1)Trafalgar House, Croydon(2)Land Registry--High Trees, Hemel Hempstead(2)Department for Communities and Local Government--Rivergate, Bristol(2)Department for Communities and Local Government--Eastbrook House, Cambridge(2)Department for Communities and Local Government--1 A peppercorn rent represents a nominal consideration to satisfy the legal requirements for creation of a contract.2 The department are minor occupiers under a Memorandum of Terms of Occupancy (MOTO).3 Net Rent includes all receipts from tenants in the buildings.

Schools

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 4 March 2014 to Question 189394, what comparative assessment she has made of the value for money of (a) community schools other than academies and (b) free schools.

Edward Timpson: The government is satisfied that free schools continue to offer good value for money: one in four of the free schools inspected by Ofsted have been judged outstanding compared to one in five of all other schools. We are working towards at least 500 new free schools by the end of this parliament.

Schools: Admissions

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 12 February 2014 to Question 187197, on school admissions, if she will place in the Library copies of (a) all those letters to local authorities where a free school is being proposed and (b) any representations from local authorities in response to those letters.

Edward Timpson: The department has no plans to publish the information requested.

Department for Education: Ministers' Private Offices

Carol Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many full-time equivalent staff at each civil service grade are employed in the private office of each Minister in her Department.

Nick Gibb: The number of staff employed at each grade in each Minister’s private office is as follows. All staff are full-time.  Ministerial Private OfficeGradeNumber of staffSecretary of State, the Rt hon. Nicky Morgan MPEA AO2EO1 HEO2 SEO1 Grade 72 (including a member of staff employed by the Government Equalities Office) Grade 61 SCS Band 11Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb MPEO3 HEO1Minister of State for Children and Families, Edward Timpson MPEO3 HEO1 EO3Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education, Sam Gyimah MP HEO1Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools, Lord NashEO3 HEO1

Department for Education: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for her Department and its subsidiary agencies are paid less than the living wage.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education and its executive agencies have no directly employed staff paid below the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.   The department has 14 temporary agency staff currently receiving a rate below the living wage, but who will shortly move to arrangements which ensure they are paid at least this rate.   External contractors who provide facilities management services to the Department have confirmed that they have 108 staff paid under the living wage rate. This is a reduction from 146 staff in October 2014.

Department for Education: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the office space owned or leased by her Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such office space; and if she will place in the Library a copy of her most recent departmental real estate valuation.

Nick Gibb: Since May 2010 the department has reduced the size of its estate from 30 properties, at a cost of circa £51m per annum, to six properties costing circa £31m per annum. This has been achieved by reducing the amount of space the department uses, by surrendering unwanted premises to landlords and through sub-letting vacant space to other organisations. The department plans to dispose of a further three vacated premises. These are: BuildingTenureCommentCastle View House, Runcorn 9,953 Sq M (12% of DfE Estate)FreeholdThe site has been marketed to the public and private sectors and is currently under offer.Mowden Hall, Darlington 6,389 Sq M (7.5% of DfE Estate)FreeholdPart of the site already houses a Free School. When fully vacated, the remainder of the site will be handed to the Homes and Communities Agency in September 2015 for new homes.Trust Court, Histon 429 Sq M (0.5% of DfE Estate)LeaseholdThe site will be surrendered to the landlord at lease expiry in 2016. The vacated properties represent 20% of the department’s estate, with an annual rental value of £138,968. This will reduce to 0.5% when the anticipated freehold disposals are concluded this calendar year. The department does not hold market rental values for properties it leases. For commercial reasons we are unable to release the value of the freehold properties. The department also plans to vacate Sanctuary Buildings at lease expiry in 2017 and relocate to a government owned freehold building, which will generate a further saving of circa £8.5m per year for the department and £19m for government.

Pupils

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children who live in England go to school in (a) Scotland and (b) Wales.

Nick Gibb: The information requested is not held by the Department for Education. The devolved Scottish and Welsh administrations may hold the information that is requested.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to the Fifth Report of the Education Committee, Session 2014-15, HC 145 on Life Lessons: PSHE and SRE in schools.

Edward Timpson: The Government wants all young people to leave school prepared for life in modern Britain. We agree with the Committee that high-quality physical, social, health and economic education (PSHE) and sex and relationships education (SRE) has a vital role to play in this. We are carefully considering the Committee’s recommendations and how best to address this.

Science: Females

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the study of STEM subjects by women; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding her Department has made available to increase the study of STEM subjects by women in each of the last five years.

Nick Gibb: The government is committed to increasing the number of young people studying STEM subjects, in particular the number of girls. Since 2010, A level entries by female students have risen in all STEM subjects: in maths by 8%, in further maths by 8%, in biology by 12%, in chemistry by19% and in physics by15%.   Schools have the freedom to decide how to use this funding in the way that best suits the needs of their pupils. During the last five years, the department has funded four  initiatives specifically aimed at increasing the study of STEM subjects by girls.   The Stimulating Physics Network aims to increase the number of students progressing to A Level physics, with an emphasis on girls. Since 2010, the Network has received the following funding; 2010-11 £1.3m; 2011-12 £1.3m; 2012-13 £1.85m; 2013-14 £1.85m; 2014-15 £2.1m.   The Further Mathematics Support Programme aims to increase the number of students studying A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics, again with an emphasis on girls. Since 2011, the programme has received the following funding: 2010-11 £1.5m; 2011-12 - £1.75m; 2012-13 - £3.25m; 2013-14 - £3.5m; 2014-15 £5m.   The Big Bang Near Me activities are local versions of the national Big Bang Fair and reach more than 80,000 young people, achieving a 50:50 split of boys and girls. Since 2011, the programme has received the following funding: 2010-11 £0.15m; 2011-12 - £0.15m; 2012-13 - £0.15m; 2013-14 - £0.15m; 2014-15 - £0.15m.   The Your Life campaign launched by the government in 2014 aims to increase the numbers taking A Level physics and maths, particularly girls. The government spent £600,000 on Your Life activity in 2014-15. The campaign is now independently run and funded.

Pupils: Scotland

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children live in Scotland and go to school in England.

Nick Gibb: In January 2015, 77 students living in Scotland were educated in schools in England. This information is published in the schools, pupils and characteristics statistical first release[1]. As residents of the UK, those living in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have a right to apply for a place in an English state school. If they have priority for admission under the school’s admissions policy they must be admitted. It is unlikely that many children living outside of England will have priority for admission to English schools, as most schools prioritise pupils living close by. These rights are reciprocal, and English residents can apply for Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish schools.  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 (Tables 14a to 14c)

Department for Education: Directors

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many non-executive directors of her Department who were in post before May 2015 have since left the Department's board; what the names and length of tenure of such directors were; and how many and what non-executive director appointments she has made since May 2010.

Nick Gibb: One non-executive board member has left the Department’s board since May 2015: My Noble Friend the Lord O’Neill of Gatley was a non-executive board member for one year and eight months and resigned on his appointment as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury. Sir Theodore Agnew resigned from the Department’s board in March 2015 after four years and eight months in post.   My Rt Hon Friend, the Member for Loughborough Nicky Morgan, appointed Marion Plant OBE as non-executive board member for the Department for Education in January 2015.

First Aid: Education

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps she has taken to promote cardiopulmonary resuscitation in schools.

Edward Timpson: Many schools already choose to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillator awareness as part of their personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) teaching, using the services of organisations such as the Red Cross and St John Ambulance. The British Heart Foundation has offered to provide free CPR training kits to every secondary school in the country, allowing young people to gain first-hand experience of this important life-saving skill. We have used our social media channels to raise awareness of this resource and have agreed to work with the British Heart Foundation to continue to promote this kit to schools. We expect many schools to take up this offer.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Libyans formerly based at Bassingbourn barracks (a) are in prison in the UK and (b) it is expected will be released from prison having completed their sentences within the next six months; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Selous: Two Libyan nationals formerly based at Bassingbourn barracks are currently serving in prison establishments in England and Wales. Neither will be released within the next six months. Three further Libyan nationals, formerly based at Bassingbourn barracks, are held in immigration detention.

Courts: Fines

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what account his Department took of the performance of Concentrix in its contract with HM Revenue and Customs in the decision to award that company the contract to collect court fines.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The Department has not awarded a contract to Synnex Concentrix UK Limited.

Prime Minister

Task Forces

Chris Bryant: To ask the Prime Minister, when the (a) Earn or Learn and (b) Digital infrastructure and inclusion implementation taskforces will meet; who will participate in those meetings; when minutes of these meetings will be published; whether those minutes will list attendees; whether the taskforces have secretariats; what resources are assigned to the taskforces; and how many full-time equivalent officials work on those taskforces.

Mr David Cameron: Implementation task forces will meet as and when required. Their membership has already been published on the Cabinet Office website and is available in the Library of the House. The Cabinet Secretariat and officials from across Whitehall will support the work of the task forces. Publication of minutes will follow the same approach as successive administrations for cabinet committees.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Frank Field: To ask the Prime Minister, if he will request from the Chairman of the Chilcot Inquiry a list of the witnesses from whom the inquiry is still waiting for comments on the draft material sent to them; and if he will also request the date in each case when material for approval was last sent.

Mr David Cameron: The conduct of the "Maxwellisation" process is a matter for the independent Chilcot Inquiry.

Ministry of Defence

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2015 to Question 1740, what complex weapons he expects to be operational on the F-35 (a) by 2018, (b) by 2019, (c) by 2020 and (d) after 2020.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 September 2013, (Official Report, column 39W), to the hon. Member for Moray (Mr Robertson).

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements his Department is making to ensure that US and UK F-35 squadrons at RAF Lakenheath and RAF Marham benefit from joint through-life support.

Penny Mordaunt: Through-life support for the F-35 aircraft of all Nation Partners will be provided by the Global Support Solution, as part of the Joint Strike Fighter Program.We continue to work closely with the US seeking to maximise any potential benefits that may exist given the proximity of RAF Lakenheath and RAF Marham.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the number of aircraft necessary to meet the threshold of initial operating capability for the F-35.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 June 2015 to Question 353, to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon).

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons HMS Enterprise has been selected to replace HMS Bulwark on migrant search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean; and when that decision was made.

Penny Mordaunt: HMS BULWARK must return to the UK for planned maintenance on 3 July 2015, and we took the decision on 18 June to replace her with HMS ENTERPRISE, which will be well suited to contribute to the broad maritime capabilities desired by the Operational Commander for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operation. HMS ENTERPRISE will help to understand and build-up a picture of how the operation will go on to seize and disrupt the assets of smugglers. All ships involved in the CSDP operation will continue to respond to vessels in distress as is customary for all maritime vessels.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the decision to replace HMS Bulwark with HMS Enterprise on capacity to rescue migrants from the Mediterranean.

Penny Mordaunt: HMS ENTERPRISE with a Merlin helicopter, and in cooperation with other EU Member States' naval assets, will make an important contribution to the Common Security and Defence Policy operation which will seek to disrupt the assets and operations of the smugglers. This is part of a longer term approach to manage the consequences of irregular migration in the Mediterranean, as agreed at the extraordinary European Council on 23 April 2015. All ships involved in the operation will continue to respond to vessels in distress as is customary for all maritime vessels.

Wind Power

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many onshore windfarms are situated on Ministry of Defence land; and where each such wind farm is based.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what planning applications for windfarms in what locations on Ministry of Defence land are pending.

Mark Lancaster: There are no existing wind farms or current applications pending on Ministry of Defence land, as they would have an impact on military capability.

Animal Experiments

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many experiments were carried out by his Department on each animal species in the last 12 months.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what animal species were used by his Department in experiments in the last 12 months.

Mr Philip Dunne: Dstl returns the numbers of procedures involving animals to the Home Office on an annual basis in accordance with UK legislation. Figures for 2015 will not be available until after the returns have been made. Details of the Annual Dstl Returns to the Home Office for calendar year 2014 are given in the table.  Animal species (type)MouseRatGuinea PigsPigsNon-Human PrimateNumber3,41122332310067 Every procedure is undertaken in strict accordance with the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and Dstl fully embraces the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement). Dstl Porton Down is licensed by the Home Office to conduct research involving animals.

Libya: Military Bases

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to publish his Department's report, undertaken in December 2014, on the training of Libyan soldiers at Bassingbourn Barracks and subsequent attacks in Cambridge.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 June 2015 to Question 3199 to the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon).



20150623 - QnA extract to 3199
(Word Document, 29 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Institute for Fiscal Studies

Ms Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department made any payments to the Institute of Fiscal Studies in each of the last five years.

Justin Tomlinson: DWP commissions a wide range of policy research and evaluation through its Social and Economic Research Framework, made up of more than 50 research organisations and academic institutions, including IFS, which we contract to carry out specific pieces of research. Such contracts are in the public domain and our protocol is that all research reports are published. Some examples of contracts which we have had with IFS during the past five years include: · DWP ad hoc research report number 11 ‘Benefit Cap: Analysis of outcomes of capped claimants’ where DWP carried out the original work and we commissioned IFS to conduct an independent peer review;· Our annual statistical publication on Households Below Average Income, which is quality assured by IFS· DWP report 606, ‘The lone parent pilots 24-36 months: the final impact assessment’ It is important to note that, apart from payments in respect of contracts for specific pieces of research, we do not provide any other funding to IFS.

Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of lone parent families with five or more children affected by the benefit cap have (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five or more children who are under five.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of lone parent families with one child that are affected by the benefit cap have a child who is under five.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of lone parent families with four children affected by the benefit cap have (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four or more children who are under five.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of lone parent families with two children affected by the benefit cap have (a) one child and (b) two children aged under five.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of lone parent families with three children affected by the benefit cap have (a) one child, (b) two children and (c) three children aged under five.

Justin Tomlinson: From April 2013 (when the benefit cap was introduced) to February 2015 (the latest available data) 1,876 single parent households with one child dependant have been capped. Of these, 1,158 households (62%) have a child aged under 5 as at February 2015. Further information on the number of children aged under 5 is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Climate Change: Research

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support research and innovation in adaptation to climate change.

Rory Stewart: Adaptation to climate change is an integral part of policy across all levels of government (for example, the £3.2bn floods programme and work to build resilience across the health and transport sectors).   The Climate Change Act 2008 has put in place a five-year adaptation policy and research cycle in which the Government first assesses the risks and opportunities facing the UK from climate change based on the latest available evidence, and then produces a policy programme to address those risks. Work on the next risk assessment, to be completed in 2017, is well underway.   In producing the Climate Change Risk Assessment and National Adaptation Programme, Defra officials continually engage with a wide range of interests active in this area, including the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change, Defra’s Science Advisory Council and Economic Advisory Panel, Research Councils, Innovate UK and the Aldersgate Group.

Home Office

Asylum: Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Libyans formerly based at Bassingbourn barracks remain in the UK having claimed asylum; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The general policy of the Home Office is not to disclose personal information about another person. This is because we have obligations under the Data Protection Act and in law generally to protect this information.The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and every claim will be considered on its individual merits.

Immigration: Afghanistan

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what exceptional circumstances outside the normal financial requirements there are for interpreters who have worked with the British Army in Afghanistan to settle their spouses in the UK.

James Brokenshire: Under the Ex Gratia Scheme for Afghan Locally Engaged Civilians Staff scheme those eligible for relocation to the United Kingdom can apply to bring with them, at the same time, a spouse, civil partner or person over the age of 18 who has been living with them in a relationship akin to a marriage or civil partnership for at least two years prior to the date of application. These family members are not subject to the usual financial requirements.Those beneficiaries of the scheme who wish to bring their wives to the UK at a later date, or who subsequently marry an Afghan or other national, will have to apply under the normal immigration rules and meet the financial requirements set out under those rules. There are no plans to change this.

Supported Housing: Crime

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes were committed against people aged under 18 in supported accommodation in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not hold this information. Police forces provide routine statistics on notifiable offences to the Home Office. However, these cannot be split as requested. They do not specify the victim’s accommodation or whether they were under 18.

Bridgend College

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects that a decision will be reached on pre-licence application SPL5298000134 made by Bridgend College Coleg Penybont on 2 July 2014; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 23 June 2015



This is a complex application in relation to a publicly funded college also seeking to run privately funded courses and we need to ensure the correct educational oversight has been provided for all courses.There are a number of outstanding enquiries with the college that need to be resolved before a decision can be made. My officials have been back in contact with the college on 22 June and have asked for a response to be provided by 29 June, at which point my officials will contact the Honourable Lady directly to provide an update.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department gives to chief police officers on dealing with illegal Traveller encampments; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Penning: New Government guidance was issued jointly by the Department of Communities and Local Government, Home Office and the Ministry of Justice in March 2015. This was sent under cover of a joint ministerial letter to council leaders, chief constables and police and crime commissioners highlighting the range of powers available when dealing with illegal and unauthorised encampments.Both documents can be found online at:Cover letter:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/unauthorised-encampmentsDealing with illegal and unauthorised encampments - A summary of available powers:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampmentsI will place a copy of these documents in the library of the House.

Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures she plans to take to implement the recommendations of the most recent report on Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons; and if she will conduct a review of the operation of (a) the families unit and (b) alternatives to detention at that centre.

James Brokenshire: HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) published their report of Tinsley House immigration removal centre (IRC) on their website on 28 May following the unannounced inspection.The recommendations made are already under consideration. This includes the recommendation to reassess the role of the family unit and to consider alternatives to detention before holding families with children at the centre.In line with the protocol agreed with HMIP, we will respond formally to the report with a service improvement plan (SIP) within two months of the report’s publication. The SIP will be made public on HMIP’s website.On 9 February the Home Secretary announced an independent review of detainee welfare in immigration detention, led by the former prisons ombudsman Stephen Shaw. The review is expected to report in September and will seek to identify whether improvements can be made to safeguard the health and wellbeing of detainees across the immigration detention estate, short term holding facilities, and those being escorted in the UK.The Government will publish the report by laying it before Parliament, alongside the Government’s response to the recommendations.

Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of detainees sent to Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre were assessed by a nurse upon arrival in the last 12 months.

James Brokenshire: The operating standards for immigration removal centres requires that all detainees are medically screened, to include an assessment for risk of self-harm/suicidal behaviour, within two hours of admission. Performance is reported on a monthly basis by the service provider. The on-site Home Office team also has the opportunity to view the induction records for individual detainees.Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons conducted an inspection of Tinsley House between 1-12 December 2014 and found that all detainees were interviewed by a member of the health care team on reception and information was shared sensitively between escort and centre staff.

Immigration: Commonwealth

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from Commonwealth countries entered the country in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14 and (e) 2014-15.

James Brokenshire: The available published information is given in the table below:Commonwealth nationals given leave to enter the United Kingdom 2010 - 20132010 4,810,0002011 4,930,0002012 4,680,0002013 4,870,000Data for the calendar year 2014 are due to be published on 27 August 2015. The latest Home Office immigration statistics relating to persons entering the United Kingdom by nationality are published in “Immigration Statistics January to March 2015”, table ad_03 (Admissions tables) which is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release and is in the Library of the House.

Immigrants: Detainees

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will commission an audit of reports submitted by healthcare professionals in Immigration Removal Centres under Detention Centre Rule 35 to maintain compliance with policy on the detention of victims of crime.

James Brokenshire: Rule 35 of the Detention Centre Rules 2001 requires doctors working in immigration removal centres to report to the Home Office if they have concerns about the case of any particularly vulnerable detainee in order that the appropriateness of their continued detention can be reviewed.A Home Office audit of Rule 35 compliance was undertaken in 2014 and a summary of the audit’s findings will be published in due course.

Refugees: Yemen

Mrs Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Yemenis have been granted refugee leave since the beginning of the present political and military crisis in Yemen.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 23 June 2015



In the six months to the end of March 2015 there were 11 grants of asylum, humanitarian protection, discretionary leave or another form of protection, for Yemeni nationals.

Asylum

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications made by asylum seekers under Article 8 of Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1988 were upheld by the courts in each year since 2000.

James Brokenshire: Holding answer received on 23 June 2015



The information requested is not held centrally and can only be collated at disproportionate costs.

Entry Clearances: Iraq

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people from the Kurdistan Region in Iraq (a) applied for and (b) were refused entry clearance to the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: The most recent figures available from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 show A) the number of Entry Clearance applications made via the Visa Application Centre in Erbil, Iraq to be 2,895 and B) the number of refusals 1,600.

Chlorine Dioxide

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that the police investigate and charge people who promote or sell chlorine dioxide for consumption by children.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nurses: Foreign Nationals

Stuart McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on nursing staff of new immigration rules relating to settlement applications; and if she will place a copy of that assessment in the Library.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Immigrants: Detainees

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much compensation her Department paid following the unlawful detention of individuals under immigration powers in the financial year 2014-15.

Karen Bradley: I am unable to disclose financial data for 2014/15 until the Home Office’s 2014/15 Annual Report and Accounts are audited and published.

Members: Correspondence

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for Harrow West's letters of 23 March 2015 and 14 May 2015 on Ms Dubla of Harrow.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office replied to the letter of the 23 March from the Hon Member on 7 May. Your MP Account Manager has supplied a further copy of this reply to your office and confirmed that there is no longer a requirement to reply to the letter of the 14 May.

Demonstrations: Crime

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to address illegal activity by far left groups in street protests.

Mike Penning: Peaceful protest is a vital part of a democratic society. It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law.Like all members of the public, protesters are subject to the law and should individuals cross the boundary into criminal acts including public order offences, criminal damage, hate crime offences or violent behaviour, the police have the powers to take action.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which buildings occupied by his Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office’s premises in Edinburgh are privately owned. The building is shared with several other government bodies which contribute towards its cost under civil estate occupancy agreements. The total annual value of the rent in 2015-16, including for space paid for by other government bodies, is £93,060. The rent is paid to Ruthven Properties Ltd.

Scotland Office: Operating Costs

Deidre  Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps he plans to take to reduce his Department's running costs between 2015 and 2020; and what savings he plans to make from reducing his Department's running costs in 2015-16.

David Mundell: All running cost expenditure in the Scotland Office is subject to rigorous control. The Office’s plans for spending in years after the current financial year will be agreed with HM Treasury in the light of the department’s settlements.

Scotland Office: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for his Department are paid less than the living wage.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly. All staff that join the Scotland Office do so on assignment, secondment or loan agreement from other Government bodies. All staff on such arrangements are paid more than the rate defined by the Living Wage Foundation.The Scotland Office has one contract which provides security for the office in Edinburgh. The Scotland Office does not set the wages paid by the contractors to its workers; however, the wage paid by the contractor is above the National Minimum Wage. Otherwise, the Scotland Office uses framework contracts for building services held by the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government.

Scotland Office: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office occupies two leasehold buildings, one in Edinburgh and one in London. The Edinburgh building is fully occupied by the Scotland Office and other government bodies which contribute towards its cost. The London building was fully occupied by the Scotland Office, the Office of the Advocate General and other government bodies until recently when the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office ceased to occupy space in the building. The Scotland Office is now in discussion with other government bodies to occupy this space. Under the terms of the lease the space may not be let commercially, but may only be used by Crown bodies. The retail value is a matter for the building’s owners.

Dover House

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many public engagement events to support (a) Scotland's place in the world and (b) the reputation of Scotland internationally have been held at Dover House in the last five years.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many public engagement events to support the voluntary sector in Scotland have been held at Dover House in the last five years.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many public engagement events to support Scottish culture have been held at Dover House in the last five years.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many public engagement events to support Scottish enterprise, business and produce have been held at Dover House in the last five years.

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many public engagement events to increase understanding of (a) Scottish issues in general and (b) the Scottish Parliament have been held at Dover House in the last five years.

David Mundell: A variety of events are held in Dover House, both by Scotland Office Ministers and by third parties. Events are aimed at engaging stakeholders on a wide variety of policy issues and aspects of life in Scotland.

HM Treasury

Revenue and Customs

Mr David Crausby: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to improve the level of (a) telephone and (b) online assistance provided by HM Revenue and Customs.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have introduced changes to the way they work.   They have invested in a new telephone system which has enabled staff from other parts of the department to answer telephone calls at busy times. They have also increasing the number of customers' queries that are answered during the first phone call.   HMRC are developing their existing online services. For people who cannot use online government services on their own, or need extra support, HMRC will offer a range of services including web-chat support and, if required, one-to-one support.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Mr David Crausby: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average waiting time was for customers who dialled the HM Revenue and Customs helpline number for (a) self assessment, (b) tax credits, (c) child benefit, (d) income tax, (e) National Insurance and (f) VAT in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs publishes regular performance reports, which are available on: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-plan-indicators

Treasury: Institute for Fiscal Studies

Ms Mhairi Black: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department made any payments to the Institute of Fiscal Studies in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin: I can confirm that during the last five financial years from 2010-11 to 2014-15 that the department has not made any payments to the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

Welfare Tax Credits: Telephone Services

Justin Madders: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average waiting time is for callers to the tax credits renewal hotline.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes regular performance reports, which are available on GOV.UK.

Married People: Tax Allowances

Gavin Newlands: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many households received the married couple's allowance in Renfrewshire (a) on the last day for which figures are available and (b) in each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: Estimates of the number of households where an individual is in receipt of married couples allowance are not available.

UK Membership of EU

Deidre  Brock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of UK membership of the EU and what effect leaving the EU would have on the economy.

Mr David Gauke: The Government has a clear mandate to improve Britain’s relationship with the rest of the EU, and to reform the EU so that it creates jobs and increases living standards for all its citizens. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer has noted, the best outcome for the UK economy is that we achieve major economic reform of the EU. The Prime Minister is focused on success: he believes he can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Mr David Crausby: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the potential cost to the public purse of converting HM Revenue and Customs helpline numbers to Freephone services.

Mr David Gauke: No such estimate has been made.  In line with government and OFCOM guidance, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has migrated all of its customer-facing 0845 helplines to 03 numbers, resulting in significant savings for its customers.

Bradwell Power Station

Sue Hayman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what meetings (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had on the future of the Magnox site at Bradwell in the last three years.

Harriett Baldwin: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.   Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm.

Bilderberg Group

Mr Michael Meacher: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the briefing packs received by John Kerr, Rona Fairhead, Ed Balls and himself at this year's Bilderberg Conference.

Harriett Baldwin: The First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Exchequer attended the 2015 Bilderberg conference in a private capacity.

Banks

Gavin Newlands: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that banks maintain a network of local branches.

Harriett Baldwin: Decisions on the opening and closing of individual bank branches are taken by the management of each bank on a commercial basis without intervention from Government. The Government is committed to increasing competition to deliver innovation and good financial products and services for all bank customers, and part of the Government’s long term economic plan is to ensure that banks serve all sections of society. The Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking protocol announced in March 2015. From the first of May this year, a bank must carry out a number of steps if it is closing a branch. The steps include establishing the impact of a branch closure before it takes place; finding suitable alternative provision; and putting satisfactory alternative measures in place before a branch is closed.

Financial Services: ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the assessment of the resilience of financial IT systems as part of critical national infrastructure.

Chi Onwurah: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the weaknesses that led to problems with IT systems in RBS in June 2015 were not identified as risks in the National Infrastructure Plan, published in 2013; and what discussions he has had with the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure on those problems.

Chi Onwurah: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) fiscal and (b) other incentives are in place for financial services companies to update their IT systems as part of improving the resilience of critical national infrastructure.

Harriett Baldwin: Responsibility for information technology infrastructure in the UK financial sector is primarily for the firms themselves. However, the Financial Authorities have a role to play in supervising, coordinating and driving change to improve the operational resilience of the sector.   The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) jointly launched, in October 2014, a review of firms’ critical infrastructure and technology resilience. The review focuses on the most significant UK retail deposit-taking organisations and is expected to conclude later this summer. The results will not be published but the FCA and PRA will provide feedback to the firms individually on their findings and any follow-up actions.   The risk of a bank experiencing severe and prolonged technical problems affecting its core infrastructure is included as an example of technical failure in the 2015 edition of the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies published by the Cabinet Office and available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-risk-register-for-civil-emergencies-2015-edition.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Richard Burgon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2015 to Question 900337, from which bodies he has commissioned advice on the sale of Royal Bank of Scotland.

Richard Burgon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2015 to Question 900337, what estimate has been made (a) by the Governor of the Bank of England and (b) from Rothschild of the effect on the public purse of the sale of the Government's stake in the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Harriett Baldwin: In announcing the sale of the Government’s shareholding in Royal Bank of Scotland, the Chancellor is acting on independent advice from the Governor of the Bank of England and a report from Rothschild investment bank that it is in the public interest for the Government to begin now to sell its stake. The report by Rothschild, and the corresponding advice from the Governor, are both available online at www.gov.uk.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Richard Burgon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact assessment he conducted of (a) the reprivatisation of RBS and (b) any other policy options for the future of RBS before the commissioning of the Rothschild Review into the UK Investment in Royal Bank of Scotland.

Harriett Baldwin: The Government has been consistent and clear that its objective in respect of RBS ownership is to return the bank to the private sector in full.   This policy is supported by recent advice from the Governor of the Bank of England that “it is in the public interest for the Government to begin now to return RBS to the private sector”, and that “there could be considerable net costs to taxpayers of further delaying the start of a sale”. The findings of the recently published Rothschild report into the Government’s shareholding in RBS concur with this assessment.

Multinational Companies: Taxation

Patrick Grady: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that multinational enterprises provide country-by-country tax reports in line with proposals made in the OECD's Country-by-Country Reporting Implementation Package, published in June 2015.

Mr David Gauke: The UK introduced legislation in Finance Act 2015 in order to implement the OECD model for Country-by-Country reporting (CbC). This proposal was initiated by the UK under its G8 presidency in 2013 and developed as part of the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project.   The OECD’s proposed implementation package, which was published on 8 June 2015, requires filing for Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) with fiscal years beginning on or after 1 January 2016.   The government will set out further detail on implementation in the UK in line with the international agreement in due course.

Multinational Companies: Taxation

Patrick Grady: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many multinational enterprises that paid tax to the Government provided country-by-country tax reports to HM Revenue and Customs in 2010-15.

Mr David Gauke: The UK introduced legislation in Finance Bill 2015 in order to implement the OECD model for Country-by-Country reporting (CbC). This proposal was initiated by the UK under its G8 presidency in 2013 and developed as part of the OECD's Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project.   The OECD’s proposed implementation package, which was published on 8 June 2015, requires filing for Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) with fiscal years beginning on or after 1 January 2016.   The government will set out further detail on implementation in the UK in line with the international agreement in due course.

Multinational Companies: Taxation

Patrick Grady: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what mechanisms are in place to ensure that multinational enterprises publish full transparent breakdowns of their tax receipts.

Mr David Gauke: The UK introduced legislation in Finance Bill 2015 in order to implement the G20-OECD model for Country-by-Country reporting. This will require multinational companies to provide information on the global allocation of income, economic activity and taxes, and will give tax authorities a clear picture of a multinational company’s global business, whilst ensuring the administrative costs for businesses are minimised.   The OECD model for Country-by-Country reporting to tax authorities is for high level risk assessment purposes and includes protections to ensure sensitive information remains confidential. Making the reporting information public would not enhance risk assessment and would likely increase resource implications on both business and tax authorities. The UK has however transposed the EU Capital Requirements Directive IV, which requires public reporting for the banking and capital markets industry.   The European Commission has launched a public consultation on this issue and will evaluate the costs and benefits of different forms of Country-by-Country reporting, including the public disclosure of this information. The UK will be interested in understanding their findings.

Revenue and Customs: Cumbernauld

Stuart McDonald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment HM Revenue and Customs has made of the potential economic effect on Cumbernauld of moving its office there to a new regional West of Scotland campus in or around Glasgow, as proposed in Building our Future - Continuing the Conversation - Phase 2.

Stuart McDonald: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what weight HM Revenue and Customs plans to give to the potential economic effect on towns where tax offices are sited of the establishment of regional centres under Building our Future - Continuing the Conversation - Phase 2 when making a decision on that programme.

Mr David Gauke: No decisions have yet been made on the location or timing of HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC’s) new Regional Centres. HMRC will be developing its plans over the coming months and will undertake all necessary consultations and impact assessment work to inform those plans.

Transport: Infrastructure

Mary Glindon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that the National Infrastructure Plan of 2014 is implemented in full.

Greg Hands: The Government has committed to delivering the National Infrastructure Plan alongside a commitment to invest over £100 billion of public spending over the course of this Parliament.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Fracking and Wind Power

Christian Matheson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many applications her Department has received for licences for unconventional gas extraction since 2010; how many such applications were approved; how many applications her Department has received for onshore wind generation facilities since 2010; and how many such applications were approved.

Andrea Leadsom: Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDLs) grant exclusive rights to extract hydrocarbons within a particular onshore area. These rights include, but are not exclusive to, unconventional gas. A further consent is required before any extraction can take place. No PEDLs have been issued since 2008. Applications for PEDLs under the 14th Onshore Licensing Round are currently being considered – 95 applications for 295 licence blocks have been made.Since 2010 DECC has received 3 planning applications for onshore windfarms above 50MW and the Planning Inspectorate has received 1 further application for examination. 6 onshore wind applications above 50MW have been approved by the Secretary of State in the period. In addition, at the end of March 2015, five years after the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff scheme, 6,830 sub 5MW installations totalling 396MW had been registered on the scheme. The Renewables Obligation was introduced in 2002 to support large scale renewable electricity in the UK and since 2010 Ofgem have accredited 415 onshore wind stations totalling 4.28 GW under the scheme.

Energy: Conservation

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will fund a major retrofit programme for energy efficiency; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: This Government is committed to delivering a long-term, coherent, and sustainable framework for household energy efficiency. By April 2015, around 1.5 million energy efficiency measures were installed in well over a million properties with the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) delivering 97%. As part of this commitment we have extended ECO from March 2015 to 2017.

Renewable Energy: Expenditure

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of expenditure on new-build renewable electricity generation under (a) the Renewables Obligation and (b) Contracts for Difference in (i) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17, (iii) 2017-18, (iv) 2018-19, (v) 2019-20 and (vi) 2020-21.

Andrea Leadsom: The Levy Control Framework (LCF) controls the support the Government can provide to the development of low carbon electricity. The Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference are two low-carbon generation support schemes which are included in the LCF. The LCF has been set to 2020/21 and is detailed in Table 2 in Annex A of the Annual Energy Statement:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/371387/43586_Cm_8945_accessible.pdf.The cost of the LCF is kept under constant review - we update our modelling and assumptions as things change, reflecting the challenges in making long-term forecasts in a changing and very active energy market.

Wind Power: Subsidies

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Written Statement of 18 June 2015, HCWS 40, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the early closure of the Renewables Obligation to new onshore wind on the Levy Control Framework.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has a responsibility to manage support schemes efficiently within the Levy Control Framework to ensure that costs to consumers remain affordable. We now have enough onshore wind in the pipeline to help us meet our renewable electricity commitments. Unless we close the Renewables Obligation to new onshore wind projects, we could end up with more deployment of this technology than we can afford. This would lead either to higher energy bills or other renewable technologies losing out on support.

Energy: Prices

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to reduce industrial energy costs.

Andrea Leadsom: There remains significant potential for business to reduce energy costs and improve competitiveness by improving energy efficiency. Policies such as the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) encourage energy efficiency in business.For energy intensive sectors, voluntary Climate Change Agreements (CCAs) allow up to 90% reduction from the Climate Change Levy (CCL) in return for signing up to stretching energy efficiency improvement targets agreed with Government. In addition, the Government has put in place a significant package of compensation for energy intensive industries for the indirect impacts of energy and climate change policies on their electricity costs (the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), Carbon Price Floor, Renewables Obligation and small scale Feed in Tariffs) as well as an exemption from the costs of Contracts for Difference.

Plutonium

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 418, whether her Department received reports from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) which were not published by the NDA or her Department.

Andrea Leadsom: As specified in the answer given to Question 418 on 2 June 2015, NDA have progressed work in line with the proposals outlined in their 2014 position paper. NDA and the Department continue to work together on this issue. The Department expects the NDA to report to us later this year. NDA then intend to publish a public position paper in due course summarising the outcome of the latest phase of work.

Renewable Energy: Job Creation

Sue Hayman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 419, on energy: infrastructure, in which (a) region and (b) companies the jobs in (i) offshore wind and (ii) renewable electricity are supported.

Andrea Leadsom: Based on figures published by BIS in The Size and Performance of the UK Low Carbon Economy (March 2015)[1] the regional breakdown of jobs supported by the offshore wind and renewable electricity sectors[2] in 2013 is given in Table 1 below. In 2013 around 220 companies operated in the UK in the offshore wind sector as their primary sector of business, with a further 400 companies involved in the sector. A total of 3,600 companies operated in the renewable electricity sector as a whole as their primary sector of business, with a further 7,200 companies involved in this sector.Table 1: Employment supported by offshore wind and renewable electricity sector by country and region in 2013 Employment by regionOffshore windTotal renewable electricityNorth East1,7006,800North West1,00012,800Yorkshire and the Humber50010,000East Midlands2006,300West Midlands1,0008,900East of England2,3008,500London2,30011,100South East80016,400South West1,2007,700Wales4003,900Scotland2,10016,000Northern Ireland4001,700England10,90088,700UK Total13,700110,300  [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416240/bis-15-206-size-and-performance-of-uk-low-carbon-economy.pdf[2] Sectors included are: solar PV, hydroelectric energy, onshore wind, energy generation from waste and biomass, biomass equipment, marine, geothermal electricity and alternative fuels. Alternative fuels category includes jobs support by both renewable and non-renewable energy sectors.

Renewable Energy

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the proportion of the UK's electricity demand that will be met each type of renewables technology by 2020.

Andrea Leadsom: Energy and emissions projections from September 2014 give the latest published estimates of renewable electricity generation in 2020[1]. Annex J estimates a total of 112TWh from renewable sources, out of total electricity generation of 327TWh. This means that around 34% of electricity generation was anticipated to come from renewable sources in 2020. We have not broken down generation by individual technologies, as this will vary according to the outcome of commercial auctions for Contracts for Difference (CfDs).[1] Available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-energy-and-emissions-projections-2014

Wind Power: Decommissioning

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether there is any (a) local and (b) national Government support available for decommissioning wind farms at the end of their productive life span; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The costs of decommissioning onshore wind farms are met by developers of the projects in question. The consenting authority is able to include requirements for decommissioning and restoration of land to an acceptable condition as part of the planning approval process, which can include a requirement for developers to make adequate provisions to meet the costs of decommissioning a project.Offshore, there is a statutory decommissioning scheme which allows the Secretary of State to compel wind farm developers to submit costed programmes for the removal of their projects with funds set aside for that purpose.

Wind Power: Morecambe and Lunesdale

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to her oral statement of 22 June 2015, HC Deb, column 618, on onshore wind subsidies, if she will publish a list of wind farms and turbine applications in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency that can be appealed under the grace period.

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to her oral statement of 22 June 2015, HC Deb, column 618, on onshore wind subsidies, if she will clarify the status of grace period and the proposed wind farm recently given planning permission on Heysham headlands port area; to what areas such a review would apply; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: We have said that onshore wind projects wishing to access the grace period allowing them entry to the Renewables Obligation beyond our closure date of 1 April 2016 will, by 18 June 2015, have to have planning consent, a grid connection offer and acceptance, and evidence of land rights for the site on which their project will be built. The precise grace period eligibility requirements will be determined through the legislative process and are subject to approval by Parliament. It will be for the developer of each individual project to determine whether they meet those eligibility requirements.

Energy: Meters

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress she has made on the rollout of smart meters.

Amber Rudd: Good progress has been made. The industry is making extensive preparations in the areas of meter procurement; in building and testing their systems, and in staff recruitment and training. Consumers are already benefiting from the roll-out – around 1.5 million meters are operating under the Programme – putting consumers in control of their energy use, bringing an end to estimated bills, and helping people to save energy and money.

Renewable Energy

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to maximise renewable energy generation through public procurement.

Andrea Leadsom: The scale of investment required in large renewable generation projects needs private sector leadership. However, the department is keen to work in partnership with industry for example, to suppport the development of new and innovative technologies. We're currently using procurement to drive innovation and are working with more than 100 companies on energy innovation projects.

Climate Change Convention

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress is being made on reaching an international climate change agreement in Paris.

Amber Rudd: As I said in response to the honourable members’ questions on this subject already, securing a global climate deal in Paris is a key priority for me. The G7 recently made great progress in setting out what is needed for this deal, particularly on climate finance. They committed to continue efforts to provide and mobilise increased finance, from public and private sources, and to demonstrate that we are well on our way to meet the goal of US $100 billion flowing to developing countries by 2020. The UK is, of course, already playing a leadership role through our £3.87bn International Climate Fund, through which we are delivering real world impacts in some of the most vulnerable countries in the world.

Cabinet Office

Heraldry

Neil Gray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will review the operation of the Lord Lyon King of Arms Act 1592 in respect of the restrictions it places on the registration of certain types of badge or crest.

Neil Gray: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent representations he has received on the decision of Lord Lyon to prevent Airdrieonians Football Club from using its current badge; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The Minister for the Cabinet Office has received no such representations. This issue concerns the Lord Lyon King of Arms in his judicial capacity and is therefore a devolved matter.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Telecommunications

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Digital communications infrastructure strategy, published on 18 March 2015, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to reform the Electronic Communications Code.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department received a total of 153 responses to the consultation launched in February 2015 on the reform of the Electronic Communications Code, my officials are currently analysing these responses and I will respond to Parliament in due course. Government remains committed to delivering a reformed Code that is clear, fit for the purpose of rolling out modern electronic communications apparatus, and supports a UK network that provides consumers with a choice of high quality telecommunications services.

Palace of Westminster: Tourism

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the benefit to the economy from tourists visiting the Palace of Westminster.

Tracey Crouch: My Department has not estimated the economic benefits from tourists visiting the Palace of Westminster. However, according to Visitor Services at the Houses of Parliament, over 1 million people visit the Parliamentary Estate each year, on average 200,000 of which are during Parliament's commercial openings on Saturdays and during recess periods. We understand that details of income generated from parliamentary commercial visitors will be published in the forthcoming House of Commons Commission annual report.

Department of Health

NHS Trusts: Finance

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts have predicted a (a) surplus, (b) break-even position and (c) deficit for the financial year 2015-16.

Alistair Burt: Individual plans for 2015-16 are still being developed. It is clear that the National Health Service faces significant financial challenges, due to the increasing demand for health services as a consequence of the ageing and growing population, new drugs and treatments and the need to ensure safer staffing requirements in the wake of Mid-Staffordshire.   This is why we have invested a further £2 billion in the NHS for 2015-16 and the Government has committed to increasing spending on the NHS in real terms every year in this Parliament with spending to be at least £8 billion higher by 2020.

Community Health Services: Expenditure

Dr   Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spent on community healthcare in England in each year since 2000.

Alistair Burt: The following table details the expenditure on community healthcare services from 1999 to 2013. YearPurchase of Secondary Healthcare: Community Health Services£000s1999-003,020,0182000-013,303,2602001-023,145,6632002-033,332,5842003-043,511,4522004-053,829,8132005-065,408,4812006-075,583,5912007-086,275,9422008-097,105,1222009-107,966,2052010-118,408,0482011-129,118,7752012-139,749,000Source: NHS (England) Summarised Accounts 1999-00 to 2010-11; Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 to 2012-13  The figures are taken from the published NHS (England) Summarised Account (1999-2000 to 2010-11) and the Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts (2011-12 and 2012-13).   These figures represent the amount of expenditure on the purchase of secondary healthcare by commissioners in relation to community healthcare. This is in the context that primary care groups (years 1999-2000 to 2001-02), primary care trusts (years 2000-01 to 2012-13) health authorities (years 1999-2000 to 2001-02) and strategic health authorities (years 2002-03 to 2012-13) were responsible for commissioning healthcare from providers based on the needs of their local population.

General Practitioners: Income

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 9 February 2015, to Question 223061, when the review of the Carr-Hill funding formula was launched; who is a member of the review group for that formula; what the terms of reference are; and when that review is expected to reach its conclusion.

Alistair Burt: The review of the Carr-Hill formula was announced by NHS England in the Five Year Forward View, published in October 2014.   Work has started within NHS England, working closely with the Department, to agree the scope of the work and membership of the review group which will be published before the summer recess.

General Practitioners

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of GP surgeries in receipt of funding under the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee in (a) England, (b) London, (c) the London Borough of Islington and (d) Islington South and Finsbury constituency which have had reduced services since 1 April 2014.

Alistair Burt: The Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG) is not a funding stream for any specific activity. Practices are required to continue to provide core services to meet the terms of their contract. Where additional or enhanced services are being provided above and beyond core contractual requirements, then the practice receives additional funding which is not affected by the phased withdrawal of the MPIG.

General Practitioners

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average (a) yearly earnings, excluding office costs, and (b) number of hours worked per week of GPs in (i) England, (ii) London, (iii) the London Borough of Islington and (iv) Islington South and Finsbury constituency.

Ben Gummer: Information on the number of hours worked per week of general practitioners (GPs) is not collected centrally.   Information on earnings provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre is given below. Information is not available by individual London boroughs or by constituency.   Mean Average Income Before Tax, General and Personal Medical Services (GPMS) Contractor GPs, 2010/11 - 2012/13 2010/112011/122012/13England£107,700£106,100£105,100London Strategic Health Authority (SHA)£111,200£110,000£111,000London NHS England Region-£110,000£111,000   Mean Average Income Before Tax, GPMS Salaried GPs, 2010/11 - 2012/13 2010/112011/122012/13England£57,900£57,000£56,600London SHA£59,300£59,100£59,300London NHS England Region-£59,100£59,300   Notes:   The time series are presented in cash terms of Income Before Tax, which is after the deduction of expenses.   Expenses are business expenses from National Health Service and private work allowable for tax purposes and fall into one of the following categories: Office and General Business, Premises, Employee, Car and Travel, Interest, Other, and Net Capital Allowance.   The 'Other' category includes: ‘Advertising and business entertainment costs’, interest for businesses where turnover is <£77,000 and interest is not reported separately, expenses for businesses (where turnover is low) and detailed expense breakdown not available and cost of drugs for dispensing GPs.   NHS England region figures are only available from 2011/12 onwards (unavailable data denoted by "-")   Figures are rounded to the nearest £100.

General Practitioners: Income

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total funding awarded to GP practices under the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee was in (a) England, (b) London, (c) the London Borough of Islington and (d) Islington South and Finsbury constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average funding award was to each GP practice in receipt of funding under the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee in (a) England, (b) London, (c) the London Borough of Islington and (d) Islington South and Finsbury constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Alistair Burt: The available information is shown in the table below. Data is only available for England. Prior to 2008/09, figures were only collected for Global Sum and Minimum Practice Income Guarantee (MPIG) payments combined. Average MPIG funding is only available from 2009/10 onwards.   YearTotal MPIG payment,England (£000s)Average MPIG payment per practice,England (£000s)2008/09306,574-2009/10160,91635.342010/11121,10326.692011/12117,65125.682012/13116,16426.062013/14118,49027.27   Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre.   Note: Total funding and average funding per practice are as at the end of the financial year. Average funding per practice is based on total funding divided by total number of practices.

General Practitioners

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP practices in (a) England, (b) London, (c) the London Borough of Islington and (d) Islington South and Finsbury constituency receive funding under the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee.

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of GP practices in (a) England, (b) London, (c) the London Borough of Islington and (d) Islington South and Finsbury constituency receive funding under the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee.

Alistair Burt: The requested information is contained in the following table. The data also includes payments made to any organisation providing general practitioner services, such as walk-in centres.   AreaPractices receiving Minimum Practice Income Guarantee fundingProportion of practices receiving Minimum Practice Income Guarantee fundingEngland2,86335.5%London51135%London Borough of Islington2566%Islington South and Finsbury constituency1372% Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre, payments to General Practice, England 2013/14.

General Practitioners: Closures

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of GP surgeries in receipt of funding under the Minimum Practice Income Guarantee in (a) England, (b) London, (c) the London Borough of Islington and (d) Islington South and Finsbury constituency which have closed since 1 April 2014.

Alistair Burt: The requested information is contained in the following table. It is important to note that these figures also include practices which have merged or been taken over and do not provide an accurate representation of activity or service provision. The data covers the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015, which is the most recent data available for the whole of England. It does not include closures or mergers after that period   AreaClosed practices since 1 April 2014England43London6London Borough of Islington1Islington South and Finsbury constituency0   Sources: Health and Social Care Information Centre, payments to General Practice, England 2013/14, NHS England London Area Team, Islington Clinical Commissioning Group.

Health Services

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Personalised Health and Care 2020: Using Data and Technology to Transform Outcomes for Patients and Citizens, published in November 2014, what progress NHS England has made on piloting the use of patient-centred outcome measures; and if he will make a statement.

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Personalised Health and Care 2020: Using Data and Technology to Transform Outcomes for Patients and Citizens, published in November 2014, what plans NHS England has to pilot the use of patient-centred outcome measures in diabetes care; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: NHS England has not yet made any decisions on the next steps for the patient-centred outcome measures (PCOMs) programme. It is currently assessing the PCOMs children and young people work with a view to deciding where the best applications of PCOMs will be.

General Practitioners: Waiting Lists

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time for a GP appointment is; and what the average waiting time is for referral to secondary care in (a) Edmonton and (b) England.

Alistair Burt: The data on waiting times to see a general practitioner is not held centrally.   The information for the average waiting time for referral to secondary care in England and Enfield Clinical Commissioning Group (that covers Edmonton) is shown in the following table.   Average (median) waiting times in weeks from referral to treatment1, April 2015  Patients who were admitted tohospital during the monthPatients who were not admittedto hospital (e.g. outpatients)during the monthNHS Enfield ClinicalCommissioning Group8.36.6England9.05.5   Source: Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times, NHS England   Note: The NHS Constitution sets out the right for patients to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions.

Mental Health Services: Children

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children and young people accessed child and adolescent mental health services in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The data requested are not collected.   A new Mental Health Services Minimum Dataset is expected to begin national reporting from January 2016. This should provide information on referrals to National Health Service commissioned services.

Mental Health Services: Children

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children and young people who are projected to need access to child and adolescent mental health services in each of the next five years.

Alistair Burt: The information requested is not held by the Department.   The Department is commissioning a new prevalence survey of child and adolescent mental health that will update these estimates. These estimates should help inform commissioning decisions. Publication of the survey is anticipated in 2017.

Buproprion: Prescriptions

Corri Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions were issued for bupropion in each year since 2001.

Alistair Burt: Information is not collected centrally on the numbers of prescriptions issued. However, information is available on the number of bupropion hydrochloride prescription items dispensed.   Number of bupropion hydrochloride prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England - 2001 to 2014YearItems (000’s)2001298.82002131.02003111.82004136.82005131.92006116.92007129.9200862.1200951.1201039.3201132.3201227.8201323.7201422.0 Source: Prescription Cost Analysis provided by the Health and Social Care Information Centre

Radiotherapy

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many referrals the NHS made to each of the two American and one Swiss centres from which it commissions proton beam therapy in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what the cost of purchasing that treatment from each such centre in each such year was; and what the cost to the NHS was of (a) travel, (b) accommodation and (c) other expenses relating to treatment provided at each such centre in each such year.

Jane Ellison: Patients are referred to these centres each year through one of the most developed commissioning programmes for proton beam therapy (PBT) abroad in the world. NHS England monitors these services carefully and is confident that they offer a high quality holistic service. This is particularly important because the treatment takes about 10 weeks.   NHS England is not able to provide information broken down by the number of patients per site, per year, as this is not held in the format requested. Additionally, due to the small number of patients involved (in particular for the centre in Switzerland), there would be a risk of providing patient identifiable information.   Patients sent abroad for PBT over the last five years is as follows:   YearNumber2010-11542011-12742012-13992013-141242014-15139 The costs of treatment and accommodation are incurred as part of the package of treatment, and are currently approximately £75,000 per patient.   In April 2012, the Secretary of State announced that £250 million will be invested to build PBT facilities at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and University College London Hospitals. Work has already started and the first facility is due to become operational in 2018.

Royal Sussex County Hospital: Construction

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what approvals are outstanding for new building works at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Alistair Burt: An Outline Business Case for the ‘Teaching, Trauma and Tertiary care’ (‘3Ts’) redevelopment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital was approved in May 2014. The Trust has subsequently prepared a Full Business Case (FBC) which needs to be approved before new building works can commence. The FBC requires approval from the NHS Trust Development Authority, the Department and HM Treasury.

London Ambulance Service

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Surge Ambers, Surge Reds and Surge Purples were recorded by the London Ambulance Service in each year since 2010; and what the reasons were for each such surge.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of Category A ambulance calls were responded to within eight minutes in May (a) 2015, (b) 2014, (c) 2013, (d) 2012, (e) 2011 and (f) 2010 in (i) each London borough and (ii) London.

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of Category B ambulance calls were responded to within 19 minutes in May (a) 2015, (b) 2014, (c) 2013, (d) 2012, (e) 2011 and (f) 2010 in (i) each London borough and (ii) London.

Jane Ellison: The borough level information requested is not held centrally.   Information for London as a whole is routinely published on the NHS England website at the following address:   http://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/

London Ambulance Service: Complaints

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many complaints of each type were received against the London Ambulance Service in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not held centrally.

London Ambulance Service: Vacancies

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent unfilled vacancies there were in the London Ambulance Service on 1 June (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015.

Jane Ellison: The full-time equivalent unfilled vacancies as of 1 June 2015 Service wide (front-line and corporate services) was as follows:   439.52 in 2012 575.43 in 2013 688.86 in 2014 403.94 in 2015   No data is available before 2012.

General Practitioners: Finance

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his speech of 19 June 2015, A New Deal for General Practice, and the announcement of a £10 million fund to support struggling GP practices, (a) whether such funding represents a new investment or the diversion of existing funds from elsewhere, (b) from where the £10 million will be sourced, (c) how eligibility for financial support under that programme will be determined, (d) whether such support will be contingent upon efforts on the part of qualifying practices to extend access to their services to seven days a week and (e) when he expects the first instalments of that fund to be paid to qualifying practices.

Alistair Burt: NHS England will be investing up to £10 million to develop a programme of support for general practitioner practices where the Care Quality Commission has identified quality concerns in need of improvement.   The funding will be drawn from this year’s Primary Care Infrastructure Fund, a £1 billion investment over four years, announced as part of the 2014 autumn statement.   The programme of support will be developed with NHS Clinical Commissioners and will take learning from a pilot scheme which is being currently being delivered by the Royal College of General Practitioners.   Further details of the programme will be released by NHS England in due course.